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While there has been no official word from Awou or NC State, there are rumors that Lorena Awou has left the NC State women’s basketball team. Wes Moore said Lorena Awou is suspended
“for the moment.” He said they’ll see where that goes. He called it a “coaches’ decision”. What’s the impact if it’s more then a suspension? This could vary, depending on several factors:

Player Depth: Lorena’s potential departure will affect the team’s depth, especially since she could have played a key role in the rotation this year as she did last year, especially at the end of the season. Her absence on the bench during the last several games has seen an increase in playing time for Maddie Cox. You may also see an increase priority to seek new post recruits.

Skill Set: Awou was a handful for opposing centers, with her size and strength. Zam Jones referred to her as a “mule” down low. Looking at the current roster, there is no one to fill the void with her style. Mallory Collier is a possibility, but she plays a different style with more finesse then brute force.

Team Chemistry: What was Awou’s role on this roster as it relates to team chemistry? We will see how this translate over the course of the remaining season. She hasn’t played much this season so I don’t think it will play much of a on-court role.

Leadership: Looking at Awou’s leadership role from the outside, with her just being a role player in her sophomore, her departure probably will not change the leadership of this team.

Recruiting and Future Plans: Wes Moore will probably make a change in his recruiting strategies to fill any gaps left by her departure, potentially altering the squad’s future trajectory. When he started the season, he had 3 quality “bigs” (2 sophomores – Tilda Trygger and Awou), and 1 Junior – Collier) on his roster. I wouldn’t be surprise if he makes it a focus in the 2027 class to bring in another center. He could also reach into the portal for an established center as well.

Overall, the specific impact will be of Loren’s potential exit will not be known until the season is over and all games have been played.